Ortus Films
Starring: James Mason, Ann Todd
Directed by: Compton Bennett

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Francesca (Ann Todd) is a talented concert pianist whose inability to play is explored when she undergoes drug-induced hypnosis.

Kitty Cameo: As a teenaged girl, Francesca is sent to live with her distant relative Nicholas (James Mason), a cold, complex character. When she first meets him he is sitting in a chair stroking a tabby Maine Coon cat.

Nicholas treats Francesca indifferently as he looks her up and down. She eyes the cat in his lap warily. When he asks if she would like to stroke the cat she says she hates cats and that they frighten her.

Nicholas informs her that she will get used to cats in his house. This would imply he has numerous cats but in these early scenes we only ever see this one.

Most of the time the cat is sitting in the background in a chair.

Later when Francesca is waiting for Nicholos to come home the cat walks across the room.

Purr Blur: After a time span of many years and late in the film a black cat is seen walking away in a quick shot in the manor.

Final Mewsings: How do you understand a woman who hates cats?

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